Bradley Wiggins's hopes of retaining his Tour de France title have been made
that much harder after it was revealed that cyclists in the 100th edition of
the race will face an unprecedented double ascent of the iconic Alpe d'Huez.

Testing climbs: the Tour de France is the ultimate physical endurance racePhoto: AFP

The 32-year-old became the first Briton to win the iconic race earlier this year when he beat Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome to the yellow jersey.

However, the 2013 route is more mountainous and may favour riders such as Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, or Froome himself. On July 18, riders will climb the famous Alpe-d'Huez and its 21 steep switchbacks twice in the same stage, just four days after ascending the feared Mont Ventoux.

The 2013 Tour will start on June 29 in Corsica, a first for the Mediterranean island. The 3,360-kilometre (2,088-mile) race then ends in the evening, three weeks later, against a floodlit Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The objective in devising the 100th Tour, according to director Christian Prudhomme, has been to show off France's most beautiful areas while maintaining suspense until the last weekend.

"This is the first 100 per cent French Tour in 10 years, and what we want is for everyone who sees the race to say: 'I know that part of France and I understand why the Tour has gone there,' or 'I don't know that place, but I can see why the Tour is visiting,'" said Prudhomme in advance of the route announcement.

With the first stage being totally flat, Britain's Mark Cavendish, who is joining the Belgian team Omega Pharma-Quickstep from Sky, will have the opportunity to wear the coveted yellow jersey for the first time.

"It is the first time since 1966 that a sprinter will have the chance to get the yellow jersey on day one," Prudhomme added.

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford has confirmed his team will be solely focused on the yellow jerse again.

"That's the plan," he said. "Mark did a brilliant job for us but from a sporting perspective it is only fair Mark has a team dedicated to him for sprints.

"Likewise if you are going to sacrifice that, if you are going to sacrifice the best sprinter in the world, you are going to do that with the view of trying to win the race overall."

Brailsford now expects Team Sky to be the team everyone wants to beat, adding: "Without a doubt. When you set the standard people want to try and knock you off the perch.

"It's a great position to be in and now it is a question of sustaining that."